Detours

I am planning on hiking the trail in late August. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to get around the detour and if it is clearly marked? Also, I would like to being my companion dog. Are they allowed on the trail?

Hi Laurie,

Dogs are welcome on the trail!

The detour at Clearwater,NE is not very clearly marked but is easy to get around. I recommend staying on HWY 275. Here's a link to a google map showing how to get around the damaged bridge/portion of the trail.

https://goo.gl/maps/RWTeyVQBGkS2

Where are you hiking to and from?

Thanks, Alex, for the detour info. Looks pretty simple.
Tyler, I want to go from Valentine to Norfolk.
Thanks!

I was just out there a few weeks ago and I retract my statement about the detour markings - they now have signs up marking the detour. If you want though, I checked out broken bridge and it was kind of neat.

Thanks, Alex!

I just completed a backpacking trip on the trail. We did not have to deal with the detour, but saw the area on the way down the highway. We started in Stuart and were to hike to Ainsworth with 3 days of hiking. 22 day 1, camp at Bassett, 10 more to Long Pine, and then a final day of 10 to Ainsworth. We did not get started until 1130am and it was over 90 degrees our first day. Minimal shade available, but overall, we managed.

I wanted to mention here, and plan to write up our trip notes to share, but the #1 surprise to us (considering myself a somewhat seasoned and experienced backpacker in good shape)was the wear and tear the 22 miles from Stuart to Basset did to our legs and feet. The trail is like crushed limestone but it is not packed very well in this stretch and being sandhills, there is....sand, not packed earth underneath. I felt the effects within a mile or 2. Changed socks, and it did not help. Maybe it was the extreme heat heating up the ground adding to it, but stopping at 10 miles I put moleskin on one foot pad to see if it would help. Unfortunately I powered on through the second leg and forgot about my other foot. Large blisters on my right foot pad that night. Very painful. I also feel I may have worn out my left foot by compensating for the blisters and walking off kilter. Either bruised it bad or stress fractured. The extra weight (40-60lb packs) 22 miles of sustained 3mph pace, little stopping or changing direction, heat, and somewhat sandy ground all lead to each of us with major blistering.

I guess what I am getting at is, tape your feet up well before you start. Use moleskin or duct tape, but do it before you start, not once you feel it. Wish I would have. If you are going to go 20 miles in a day, start early and break more than once. Also, I would recommend some sturdy hiking boots. I opted to leave mine at home since I was not going to be going over rocks and uphill, went with a NewBalance trail runner, and they did fine, but wished I would have had my Keens. Good luck!